ICC softball signs Itawamba AHS, Caledonia standouts

FULTON – Itawamba Community College softball coach Andy Kirk announced the signing of Itawamba AHS shortstop and outfielder Haley Moore and Caledonia utility player Cara Hopper on Monday.

“Haley and Cara are going to be great additions to our program next season,” Kirk said. “They bring a lot of speed and depth with the ability to play multiple positions at extremely high levels. We look for them to come in and compete for starting jobs right away.”

Moore has earned All-Division honors in eight, ninth, tenth and eleventh grades while being named to the Class 4A All-State team as a junior. She was selected to the Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC) All-Star game and the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal All-Area team after batting .473 with 19 RBI, 39 runs scored and leading the state successfully stealing base on all 41 attempts as a junior.

“Being from around this area and knowing the great program ICC has academically and athletically made the decision to sign an easy one,” said Moore. “Plus knowing that my family and friends will be around and able to come watch me play is another positive of playing at ICC.”

“Haley is a hard worker,” said Itawamba AHS head coach Rodney Moore, who is also Haley’s father. “She’s aggressive, she’s really going to get after things and will bring some speed to the team. I feel like she’ll be a really hard worker and a great teammate.”

Hopper had 187 strikeouts, 30 walks and gave up 36 hits for an ERA of .067 in 105 innings pitched for a 14-6 record with one save. She had five no hitters and twice earned Clarion Ledger’s Top Performer of the Week , named the Commercial Dispatch Player of the Week and earned All-Area honors as a junior.

“The campus is beautiful and the education programs are great,” Hopper commented about choosing ICC. “The coaches really made feel like ICC was the right choice with the love and support they showed me through this whole decision-making process.”

At the plate, Hopper batted .364 with eight doubles and seven walks in 88 at-bats and led the team in singles (20) and extra base hits.

Moore and Hopper are the fourth and fifth members of the Lady Indians 2013 signing class joining January signees Maddy Lukens (Saltillo), Arriann Henry (North Pontotoc) and Heather Dillard (Ingomar).

Kirk is expecting to announce more area and out-of-state signees in the coming days.

For more information on ICC softball and the nine other intercollegiate athletic programs follow ICC Athletics on Twitter (@LetsGoICC) or visit www.LetsGoICC.com.